The Hope Chest

Reach for this book when your child starts questioning the status quo or feels frustrated by rules that seem unfair. It is an ideal bridge for discussing how individual courage can lead to systemic change, specifically through the lens of the women's suffrage movement. The story follows young Violet as she runs away to find her sister and joins the fight for the 19th Amendment in Tennessee. Through Violet's eyes, readers witness the grit required to stand up for one's beliefs against societal and family pressure. The book masterfully balances high-stakes historical drama with the emotional reality of a child finding her own identity. It is developmentally perfect for middle graders who are beginning to develop a more complex sense of social justice and civil rights history.